Washing-machine



W. A. E. HENRlCl.

WASHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 050.22. I916.

Patented July 8 3 SHEETS SHEET I.

W. A. E. HENRICI.

WASHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 22 I916 Patented July 8, 1919.

3 SHEETS SHEET 2.

W. A. E. HENRICL WASHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 050.22. 1916.

Patented July 8, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

- TED STATES PATENT oFFIoE.

WILLIAM A. E. HENRICI, 0F ROXBURY, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO HENRICIWASHING MACHINE COMPANY, A CORPORATIQN OF MASSACHUSETTS.

WASHING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Eatent.

Application filed December-22, 1916. Serial No. 138,480.

Improved lVashing-Machine, of which thefollowing is a specification,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part thereof.

This invention has reference to improvements in Washing machines andmore particularly to improvements in washing machines of the characterdescribed in my co- No. 105,917, filed June 26, 1916.

The main object of the invention is to provide improved means, of simpleeonstruction and operation, for discharging the fluid contents from thewash-tank of washing machines of this character.

Other objects of the invention will appear A from the followingdescription.

The invention consists in such novel features of construction, operationand combination of parts as shall hereinafter be described and pointedout in the claims.

Referring to the drawings Figure 1, represents a front view in elevationof a machine embodying my invention with parts broken away to save spaceand parts in section. v

Fig. 2, represents a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3, represents. a. sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4, represents a view similar to a portion of Fig. 3 With ferentposition.

Fig. 5, represents a sectional plan View taken on the line 55 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6, represents a sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 3. 1 i

Fig. 7 represents a sectional view taken on the line 77 of Fig. 6-. U

Figs. 8 and 9, represent sectional views respectively taken on lines.88and 99 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 10, represents a sectional view taken on line 10- 10 ofFig. 3.

Like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout.

The, machine shown in the drawings is provided with the usual frame 10having the standards 11 and 12. On the upper ends of the latter arerespectively journaled-the parts shown in a dif-' trunnions 13 and 14projecting from the cylindrical wash-tank 15, transversely to thelongitudinal center line thereof.

Said wash-tank may be rotated from any. suitable source of power,through the worm-wheel 17 on the outer end of the trunnion 13, and theworm 18 mounted on the standard 11.

Washing fluid and steam may be circulated i Patented July 8, 1919. V

through said washtank as described in my said co-pending application,the outlet pipes 20 and 21 connecting the respective ends of saidwash-tank to a common outlet passage in the trunnion 14. Un" one end ofsaid wash-tank 15 is the door 22 held closed by the pivoted eye-bolts23. The other end of said wash-tank is closed by the head 24 secured tothe inside thereof. Said head 24 is provided with the valve chamber 25,the.

inner side of which is covered by the circularperforated plate or screen26. Secured to the upper side of the'latter is the series of perforatedsemispherical hollow knobs 27 In the valve chamber 25 are the fourvalves 28, provided with valve stems 29 mounted to slide in bearings 30in said head 24. Sa1d' valves are normally held to close theirrespective valve openings 31 in said head by the expansion springs 32 onsaid valve stems which bear against the ends of said bearings 30 and theshoulder 33 on said valve stems.

Said valve openings .31 lead into one end 35 of the exhaust chamber 36secured at said end to said head 24. Said exhaust chamber consists ofthe outlet pipe 37 and the annular chamber 38 secured thereto and whichsurrounds the trunnion 13. Said outlet pipe and said annular chamber arein "communr cation through the opening 39. Said anopening 40 and isinclosed by the casing 41 at the upper end of the discharge pipe 42which leads to the tank 43. Leaking from the bottom of the latter is thedrain pipe 44.

Mounted to slide on the stud 47 projecting from the head 24 is thecross-head 49 adapted to engage the ends of the valve stems'29.

' nularchamber is further provided with the The pair of arms 50 connectsaid cross-head to the rock shaft 51 which is journa-led in the hanger52 projecting from thehead 24; the stufling-box and bearing 53 in theend 35 of the outlet pipe 37; and the hanger 54 projecting from the head24. On the outer end of the rock-shaft 51 is the arm 55 pivoted on oneend of the rod 56. The upper end of the latter extends through and isguided by the bracket 57 projecting from the washtank 15. Pivoted onsaid bracket is the bell-crank lever 58, the lower end of one arm 59 ofwhich is forked to straddle said rod 56 and is pressed toward the latterby the spring pressed plunger 60 which engages the other arm of saidbell-crank lever. On said arm 59 and said rod 56 are the coiiperatinglocking shoulders 61 and 62 respectively. Carried by said rod is theroller 63 adapted to engage the top surface 64 of the cam lever 65 andthe end of the arm 59 of the bell-crank lever 58 is adapted to engageone of the inclined surfaces 66, 66 of said cam lever. The latter ispivoted at one end 67 on said standard 12 and the other end of said camlever is connected to the crank-arm 70 by the link 71. Said crank arm ison one end of the short shaft 7 2 extending through standard 12 and-onthe other end of said shaft is the arm 73 provided with the handle 74 atright angles thereto. Said arm 73 is adapted to be engaged by the lowerend of the locking-lever 75 pivoted at 76 and having its upper end heldin engagement with the cam 77 on the valve stem 78 of the valve 79, bythe expansion spring 80 on the stud 81 bearing against the inside ofstandard 12. Said valve 79 is on the air vent pipe 82.

When it is desired to discharge the fluid contents of the wash-tank 15,the flow of the washing fluid and steam into said wash-tank is firstshut off and the valve 79 opened. The opening of said valve causes thecam 77 to swing the lower end of the locking-lever 7 5 out of engagementwith the arm 73 against the action of the spring 80. The arm 73 isth'enswung by hand from its normal position shown in Fig. 3 to the positionshown in Fig. 4, which, through the connecting elements, raises the cam.lever 65 on its pivot to the position shown in the latter figure.

When the roller 63 is then brought "into engagement with the top surface6 1 of said cam lever, by the rotation of said wash-tank, 1t w1ll beraised thereby, which, in turn, Wlll raise the rod 56 sufliciently toallow the locking shoulder 61 to engage the locking shoulder 62 by theaction of the spring pressed plunger 60, thereby locking said rod 1n itsraised position as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 10.

The raising of said rod 56 will through the arm 55, rock shaft 51, pairof arms 50- and cross head 49, open the valves 28 against the action oftheir springs 32. The opening of said valves allows the fluid contentsof the wash-tank to rapidly. flow into the outlet pipe 37 of theexhaust. chamber 36 by gravity and centrifugal force. The outlet pipe 37is so shaped and positioned in respect to the dlrection of rotation ofsaid wash-tank that as the receiving end 35 of said outlet pipe 1raised, the fluid will flow therethrough in its normal position.

and enter the annular chamber 38. Approximately at the completion of onehalf a revolution of said wash-tank from the position'shown in Fig. 3,the outlet pipe 37 and annular chamber 38 will have received its maximumamount of fluid contents from said wash-tank, at which time the opening40 will be brought to register with the receiving end of said dischargepipe 42, allowing said fluid contents to be discharged into said tank43', from which it may flow through the drain pipe 44. It is to be notedthat the fluid rushes with considerable force both out of the wash-tankand out of said exhaust-chamber which, of course, renovates these partsmuch more thoroughly and rapidly than though the fluid flowed slowly.The force of the discharging fluid is not only due to its free passagethrough the comparatively large conduits, but also to the shape of therearwardly and inwardly extending outlet pipe 37, which, as it revolves,allows centrifugal force and gravity to act to advantage to firstdischarge the fluid from the wash-tank into said outlet pipe and thenout of the latter.

The perforated knobs 27 tend to prevent the wash w from stopping theperforations in the plate 26.

When the wash-tank is discharged of its fluid contents and it is desiredto furnish a new supply of washing fluid to the' tank, the arm 7 3 isfirst swung by hand back to its normal position which, through theconnecting elements, lowers the cam lever 65 on its pivot to its normalposition. (Fig. 3.) lIVhen said cam lever is thus set, the'con tinnedrotation of said wash-tank willresult in the forked end of arm 59 of thelever 58' engaging one of the inclined surfaces 66, causing said arm toretract sufliciently to disengage shoulder 61 from shoulder 62, therebyreleasing the rod 56 to allow the springs 32 to close their respectivevalves 28. The means for supplying washing fluid and steam to saidwash-tank is such that this cannot be efficiently done Without firstclosing the air-vent valve 79. The closing of the latter results in thecam 77 swinging .locking lever 75 on its pivot to cause the lower endofsa-id locking lever to engage the top of the arm 73, which togetherwith the stop 70 engaging arm 7 O, locks said arm 73 The locking of arm73 while washing fluid and particularly steam is entering the wash-tankis of considerable practical importance in avoiding accldents due tocarelessness of the operator. If the arm 73 was positioned to open thedis charge valves 28 while steam under a high pressure was in thewash-tank, which of course would tend to close the said valves, somepart of thevalve operating mechanism would be liable to break'and bethrown with considerable. force from the rotating washtank. In order todischarge the fluid contents of the wash-tank the operator mustfirst'relieve the pressure therein. It is to be noted that it is notnecessary to stop the rotationof the wash-tank in order to discharge andrenew the fluid contents thereof.

Another feature of the machine which is of practical importance inavoiding accidents, is that the valve mechanism will operate as wellwhen the wash-tank is rotated in one' direction as in the other, so thatshould the operator inadvertently start the machine operating in ,thereverse direction to that indicated by the arrow a in Fig. 3, no harmwill be done.

VVhile it is preferred to employ the specific construction andarrangement of parts shown. and described, it will be understood thatthis construction and arrangement is not essential except so far asspecified in the appended claims, and may be changed or modified withoutdeparting from the broader features of the invention.

Having thus described my invention I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent:

1. In a washing machine the combination of a wash-tank, means forimparting a rotary movement thereto, an exhaust chamber in communicationtherewith, wit-h means for discharging the fiuid contents of said wasl1tank into said exhaust chamber during the first half of a revolution ofsaid wash-tank and for discharging the said fluid contents from saidexhaust chamber during the second half of a revolution of saidwash-tank.

2. In a washing machine the combination of a Wash-tank, an exhaustchamber in communication and rotatable therewith, with means fordischarging the fluid contents of said wash-tank into said exhaustchamber during the first half of a revolution of said wash tank and saidexhaust chamber and for discharging'the said fluid contents from saidexhaust chamber during the second half of a revolution thereof.

3. In a washing machine the combination of an elongated wash-tank, meansfor rotating said wash-tank on an axis transverse to the longitudinalcenter'line thereof, an exhaust chamber having the receiving end thereofextending rearwardly from one end of said wash-tank, with means forallowing the fluid contents of said wash-tank to pass into said exhaustchamber and forallowirig the said fluid contents to pass from saidexliaust chamber during one revolution of said wash-tank.

4:. ,In a washing machine the combination of a wash tank, an exhaustchamber incommunication and rotatable therewith, 'a' sta- V tionarydischarge pipe in communication .with said exhaust chamber, with. valvecontrolled means for discharging the fluid contents of said wash-tankinto said exhaust chamber and for discharging the said fluid contentsfrom said exhaust chamber into said discharge pipe.

5. In a washing machine the combination of an elongated wash-tank, meansfor rotating said wash-tank on an axis transverse to the longitudinalcenter line thereof, an exhaust chamber extending rearwardly from oneend of said wash tank and to the said axis, said wash-tank incommunication with said exhaust chamber through a valve, with means foropening and closing said valve during the rotation of said wash-tank.

6. In a washing machine the combination of an elongated wash-tank, meansfor rotating said wash-tank about an axis transverse to the longitudinalcenter line thereof, an exhaust chamber having one of its ends connectedto one end of said wash tank and having its outlet end located aroundthe said axis, a valve for controlling the passage of the fluid contentsof said wash-tank into said exhaust chamber, means for opening andclosing said valve, said outlet end of said chamber provided with anopening adapted to register with an opening in a discharge pipe afterthe fluid contents of said washtank have passed into said exhaustchamber, substantially as described.

7. In a washing machine the combination of a Wash-tank, means forimparting a rotary movement thereto, ,an exhaust chamber incommunication with said wash-tank, a Y

contents of said wash-tank into said exhaust chamber, means for openingand sustaining open said valve during substantially a completerevolution of said wash-tank, with means for closing said valve.

8. In a washing machine the combination of an elongated wash-tank, meansfor rotating said wash-tank about an axis transverse to the longitudinalcenter line thereof, an exhaust chamber in communication with one end ofsaid wash-tank through a valve in said end, means dependent upon therotation of said Wash-tank for opening said valve, with means forclosing said valve.

9. In a washing machine the combination of an elongated wash-tank, meansfor rotating said wash-tank about an axis transverse to the longitudinalcenter line thereof, an exhaust chamber in communication with one end ofsaid wash -tank through a valve. means for opening said valve and forlocking said valve open during the rotation of said wash'tank, withmeans for releasing said locking means to allow said valve to close.

closed valve, means for opening said valve, means for locking said valveopen, with means for releasing said locking means to allow said valve toclose.

11. In a Washing machine of the character described the combination ofan elongated wash-tank, means for rotating said wash-tank about an axistransverse to the longitudinal center line thereof, an exhaust chamberin communication with one end of said wash-tank through a normallyclosed valve, means for opening said valve and locking said valve open,with means de pendent upon the rotation of said washtank for releasingsaid locking means to allow said valve to close.

12. In a washing machine the combination of an elongated wash-tank,means for rotating said wash-tank about an axis transverse to thelongitudinal center line thereof, an exhaust chamber in communicationwith one end of said Wash-tank through a valve, means for opening andclosing said valve, with a screen between said valve and the center ofsaid Wash-tank, substantially as described. V Z

13. In a washing machine the combination of an elongated wash-tank,means for rotating said Wash-tank about an axis transverse to thelongitudinal center line thereof, one end of said wash-tank closed by ahead having a plurality of valves therein, with means for simultaneouslyopening said valves to allow the fluid contents of said wash-tank topass into an exhaust chamber, With'means for closing said valves.

14-. in a'washing machine the combination of a wash-tank, means forimparting a rotary movement thereto, an exhaust chamher in communicationWith said wash-tank through a normally closed valve, means for openingsaid valve, with a safety device for allowing said valve opening meansto operate only when pressure in said wash-tankis relieved.

15. in a washing machine the combination of a wash-tank, means forimparting a rotary movement thereto, an exhaust chamber in communicationwith said wash-tank through a normally closed valve, means for openingsaid valve, with a safety device, adapted to be connected to the stem oran air vent valve leading into said Wash-tank, for allowing said valveopening means to operate only when said airvent valve is open. WILLIAME. HENRICI.

